As Robin Hayman, SpliceCom’s Director of Marketing & Product Management explains, “For our channel a 100+ extension opportunity for maximiser typically means a multi-site system requirement. It’s here that Spectrum Managed Solutions offers greater choice and flexibility, in terms of both delivery and payment, then anything else on the market. This gives our partners the edge to increase the number of larger system sales bid for and won.”
A case in point is the large system win at Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (MBC), by SpliceCom Community Visionary Partner, Network Connect. Situated between the edge of Manchester and foothills of the Pennines, Tameside MBC required a modern IP telephone system capable of supporting 2,000 extensions across twelve new Secondary schools being constructed under the Building Schools For The Future programme.
Working in conjunction with Capita, the UK’s largest outsourcing company, Tameside were originally considering solutions from Cisco and Nortel, in addition to SpliceCom’s maximiser from Network Connect. maximiser was eventually chosen due to its flexibility, and ability to scale easily. The solution designed by Network Connect was highly resilient with every element protected against failure. Dual Call Servers have been deployed at each location alongside a fully redundant core architecture based on XS platforms running maximiser S8000 software. These attributes, combined with an excellent overall Total Cost of Ownership for the council over the term of the contract, were the deciding factors.
Whilst maximiser is operating across all twelve schools as ONE system, it has at the same time been deployed to operate in a different manner at each school to suit their own specific needs, demands and requirements. For example, some of the schools have opted for basic handsets in every classroom, which are then “locked” to prevent outbound dialling unless a unique PIN is entered before making a call. Others have favoured a solution based around IP Softphones for every teacher, running on their laptop computers in conjunction with a USB headset. Basic handsets are deployed in shared communal areas such as staffrooms, science prep rooms, libraries, etc. whilst in the back offices all administration staff and members of the senior leadership teams have opted for SpliceCom’s high performance and easy to use PCS 560 or PCS 570 IP handsets.
With all the networked maximiser platforms operating as ONE single communications system “Hot Desking” between schools has been made possible, whilst all calls between schools will be free. The deployment of SpliceCom’s Vision suite of web-based management applications has been centralised alongside the XS platforms, making it more cost effective to implement and easier to manage across the whole estate.